Dumb USB question

I should know this but: Is USB 2.0 a hardware or OS upgrade on my computer? Will the ports on my mac always be 1.x or did they upgrade at some point to 2.0? When I plug a USB 2.0 device into my USB port is it running at 1.x or 2.0 speed?

Unless you have a G-5 they are USB 1.1 and not upgradable, to my knowledge. The only way would be to put a USB2.0 PCI card in, but I'm not sure there are drivers available, check the Apple website. If you plug a USB2.0 device into them ythey un at USB 1.1 speed.

USB2.0 must be supported by hardware. USB2.0 drives will work with USB1.0, but only at 1.0's speed. Other USB2 devices probably will not work well. If your computer doesn't have USB2, you will have to get an expansion card. I'm sure you can get one for pretty cheap. (The OS must support the USB2.0 hardware as well, but most modern OS's will)

There are a number of USB 2.0 PCI Cards that should work in just about any Mac... but you'll need to be running OSX to get 2.0 instead of 1.1.

Thanks for your help. Now lets say I have an iBook. Is there anyway to upgrade? Is there a USB2 to firewire thingamajig or am I up [bleep] creek with out a paddle?

look for a USB card that will fit in the PCMCIA slot (or whatever it's called).

Great, just what I thaught. I hate computers. If I didn't love making music on them I'd throw mine out the [bleep] window right now.